Cable-clutch.



No. 820,422. PATENTED MAY 15, .1906.

s; A. JOHNSON. CABLE CLUTCH. APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 5, 1906.

[live/122 f SEAVER A. JOHNSON, OF OROVILLE, CALIFORNIA.

CABLE-CLUTCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 15, 1906.

Application filed January 5, 1906. Serial No. 294.733.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, SEAVER A. J OHNSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oroville, in the county of Butte and State of California,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cable-Clutches, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in cable-clutches and the object ofmy improvements is to provide simple, durable, and'inexpensive means forgripping and holding a wire cable or the like.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation view of my cable-clutch,showing the pawls engaging a section of wire cable inserted in theclutch; Fig. 2, a view of same, showing the pawls in a released positionand the cable removed; Fig. 3, a view of the right-hand end of Fig. 1Fig. 4, a fragmentary top plan view; Fig. 5, a side elevation view of mycable-clutch, having a release-lever of modified construction; Fig. 6, aview showing a second modified construction, and Fig. 7 a top plan viewof the block shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference-numeral 1 representsa block or frame provided in one side with a longitudinal channel 2 andhaving a groove 3 formed at the bottom of the channel and adapted toreceive a cable 4, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. In the top of the block 1there is formed a slot 5, communicating with the said channel andlocated directly above or opposite said groove. Two or more pawls 6 arearranged in said slot and are movably mounted on the pivots or bolts 7,which pass through the block and through the pawls. The lower ends ofthe latter are grooved and are adapted to engage the cable 4, insertedin'the groove 3, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The upper ends of the pawlsare pivotally secured between two bars or plates 8 by means of thepivots or bolts 9, which latter extend through said bars and through thepawls. A member 10 is secured between the ends of the plates 8 by a boltor pivot 11 and has in its outer end an opening 12. Secured between theopposite ends of the plates 8 by a pivot or bolt 13 is a hand-lever 14,provided at one end with a handle 15 and having its opposite end adaptedto engage the adjacent end of the block 1.

The operation of my clutch is as follows: The pawls are thrown back byraising the lever upright, as shown in Fig. 2. The cable is theninserted in the said groove, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and the pawlscaused to engage the cable. The clutch is then secured to any suitableobject by a rope or the like passed through the opening 12 in the member10. Then when a strain is applied to the cable or rope the pawls gripand hold the cable. If the ends of a cable or of two separate pieces ofcable are to be connected, then a separate clutch is secured to each ofthe cable ends in the manner described and the members 10 connected witheach other by any suitable means.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 5 the engaging end of thelever 16 is bent downwardly and is provided on each side witha'rotatable roller 17 adapted to engage the end of the block 1.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 6 the lever 18 has one endconnected with the block by a pivot 19. Said lever 18 is connected alsowith the bars 8 by a pivot 20, which passes through the bars and throughthe lever. By means of the latter modified construction the plates 8 mayby operating the lever be moved endwise in either direction and thepawls caused to engage or disen gage the cable.

Each of the several parts of the clutch is made preferably from steel orother suitable metal.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

In a cable-clutch, a block or frame provided in one side with alongitudinal channel, and having a groove formed at the bottom of thechannel to receive a cable, and provided with a slot opening into thechannel opposite the groove pawls pivotally mounted in said slot; anactuating-bar connecting the pawls and a lever for operating the bar.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SEAVER A. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

W. D. DARBY, J. W. BOLE.

